Saturday, August 6, 2011

Shoebox Photos | Halifax, NS

I know you have one of those, a shoebox full of old photos.  I have several.  So does my mom.  I usually haul out one of the boxes, forgetting what's in there, wanting to purge.  Instead, my face lights up, I sit cross-legged on the floor and I gently pull picture after picture out of the box.  Oh, the memories contained in that little box, the pictures of people I love, bringing a tear from the memories of a time long ago.

I go through each one.  With some, I remember the occasion; with others, I don't remember the day, just the stories I've heard about it.  Mixed in with the photos are mementos - napkins or matches from a friend's wedding, birth announcements, newspaper clippings, reminders of special days.

I sigh and smile.  

The pictures go back in the box; the box goes back on the shelf with a lingering touch, hoping to hold on to the memories a little longer.





 
...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca

Thursday, August 4, 2011

You Inspire Me | Halifax, NS, Breast Cancer Survivor

Since my diagnosis, people tell me how strong and inspiring I am.  Do they really think I'm that strong?  I brush it off - I do what anyone going through this would do.  You just get it done.

But I look around at the women in my life and I see strength and inspiration.  I see it everywhere.

My mom tops the list of women who inspire me.  She is truly an amazing woman, she deals with life head on - with humor, grace, and strength.  Your husband gets posted overseas?  No problem, you pack up your three small children, move overseas, and have an adventure.  Cancer diagnosis?  Cancer schmancer - bring it.  Do what you've got to do and move on.  In every aspect of her life, she just deals and moves on.  

Then I look around at the other women in my life and I see more strength and inspiration.   Women who are raising their children.  They're dealing with illness.  They are someone's support system.  They're dealing with loss and separation.  They're single-parenting.  They're making someone's struggle easier.  They step out of their comfort zone.  They move across the country or around the world.  Something big or something little, they just get it done.

If you tell them how amazing they are, they'll brush it off.  They'll tell you they're just doing what needs to be done.  And their strength inspires me.

But it's you I'm talking about.  You are one of the women in my life.  You.  Strong, powerful, inspiring.  Don't ever forget it or brush it off.  Your strength inspires the people around you.  Believe it.  Believe in yourself.  You are amazing.



...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca